We all love a good gooey chocolate brownie or yummy cookie, however they often come loaded with unrefined sugars and calorific ingredients. Plus at this time of year we are surrounded by yummy chocolate and sweets practically everywhere..it’s so hard to stick to a healthy lifestyle without feeling excluded from all the festivities..
Have no fear, there is a new generation of treats in town that offer a much healthier option for you to indulge in – and this time you don’t have to feel any guilt whatsoever. It’s practically like eating a salad.. pretty much.
Here are some yummy recipes that we’ve picked out for you to try out:
The Raw Brownie
This recipe requires no baking whatsoever so if you are the sort of person who has a history of burning your bakes, then this one’s for you. This particular recipe is from Sarah Britton off the blog My New Roots and contains only five ingredients so it’s an easy one to follow.
Ingredients:
2 cups whole walnuts
2 ½ cups Medjool dates, pitted
1 cup raw cacao
1 cup raw unsalted almonds, roughly chopped
¼ tsp. sea salt
Instructions:
1. Blitz walnuts in a food processor until they are finely ground.
2. Add the raw cacao and salt to the walnuts and pulse to combine.
3. Add the dates individually whilst the food processor is on mixing the walnut-cacao mix through the feed tube on the processor. The mixture should now appear to crumbs but when pressed the crumbs stay stuck together (if not don’t, just add more dates!).
4. In a big bowl combine the walnut mixture with the chopped almonds until they are evenly dispersed in the mix.
5. Press mix in a lined cake tin of your choice and then place into the fridge or freezer until needed.
Mint Chocolate Pavé
Hemsley + Hemsley have created this delicious sweet treat, and you can ensure this is totally guilt-free. The Mint Choc Pavé is perfect served after-dinner or as a mid-afternoon snack.
Ingredients:
For the Chocolate Layer
50g cocoa powder
100g coconut oil, melted
3 tbsp raw honey
1 tsp vanilla extract
½ tsp mint extract or to taste
Pinch of salt
For the Mint Layer
150g coconut oil at room temperature (not melted)
3 tbsp raw honey
¾ tsp mint extract or to taste
1½ tsp spirulina powder (or natural green colouring)
1 tsp turmeric
Instructions:
1. For the chocolate layer, whisk the cocoa powder into the melted coconut oil a little at a time and then whisk in the other ingredients until smooth.
2. Use a spatula to smooth it into a small parchment paper lined tray approx. 17cm x 11cm (we used a glass lunchbox).
3. Place in the fridge to set for 10 minutes.
4. For the mint layer, use a whisk to blend the ingredients for the mint fudge layer together until smooth.
5. Smooth over the chocolate layer and set in the fridge. Slice into squares and enjoy straight from the fridge.
Apple Pie Oatmeal Cookies
We caught this recipe on Amy’s Healthy Baking and like her other clean-eating oatmeal cookies, these ones are made with 100% whole wheat flour and lots of instant oats. For this, she has swapped butter for coconut oil and sugar for agave too so
Ingredients:
1 c (100g) instant oats
¾ c (90g) whole wheat flour
1 ½ tsp (4g) baking powder
1 ½ tsp (4g) ground cinnamon
⅛ tsp (1g) salt
2 tbsp (28g) coconut oil or unsalted butter, melted
1 large egg, room temperature
1 tsp (5mL) vanilla extract
½ c (120mL) agave
1 c (125g) finely diced red apple (about 1 medium)
Instructions:
1. Whisk together the oats, flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt in a medium bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together the coconut oil or butter, egg, and vanilla. Stir in the agave. Add in the flour mixture, stirring just until incorporated. Fold in the apple. Chill for 30 minutes.
2. Preheat the oven to 325°F, and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
3. Drop the cookie dough into 15 rounded scoops onto the prepared sheet, and flatten slightly. Bake at 325°F for 13-15 minutes. Cool on the pan for 10 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack.
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Want to see how to make these two healthy, delicious brownies? Find out here.
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